In the past year the Commission on Human Rights, formed by the 1987 Philippine Constitution to protect the Filipinos from human rights abuses by the State, has been investigating these cases. In recent months however President Duterte has contemplated abolishing the Commission, which is Southeast Asia’s oldest human rights institution.

On September 12, 2017, the House of Representatives voted to allocate a budget of 1,000 Philippine Pesos (USD20) to the Commission on Human Rights for 2018; 119 representatives voted in favor, and 32 were against the motion. However, 10 days later members of the House of Representatives reversed the decision and restored the Commission’s budget after the Chair of the Commission met with the leaders of the Congress. These reports question the autonomy of the members of the House of Representatives in a political environment that is now rife with undercurrents of threats to reputation, and district-level budget cuts lacking transparency. For example, the President asked the Commission’s Chairman whether he was “gay or pedophile” after the Commission led investigations into the deaths of male teenagers who were shot during the police’s anti-drug operations.

On rescinding their decision, many felt that the human rights in the country prevailed. However, questions remain as to what agreements the Commission on Human Rights entered into with the House of Representatives to have their budget restored. There will be much interest from all sides in the Commission’s future selection of cases to investigate.

Though the police force has been taking steps to clean its image, having politicians vote for a USD20 budget for the Commission on Human Rights, and take it back when it is satisfied with the Commission’s future plans, is not helping restore a sense of confidence in a fair or transparent judicial system in the Philippines. President Duterte’s open lack of regard for human rights is reverberating throughout the entire country.

Red Thaddeus D. Miguel, MD, MBA, is University Researcher in the Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies at the National Institutes of Health – University of the Philippines Manila